Capeside Lady Finds Winning Belmont Spot

(from Belmont report)Trainer Todd Pletcher put Capeside Lady back in against New York breds, and the 2-year-old filly enjoyed a laugher, leading at every call to win the $108,900 Joseph A.Gimma at seven furlongs.

Her nine-length victory in the mud under jockey John Velazquez came in the stakes record time of 1:23 4/5, breaking the old mark of 1:24 set by Aristie in 1996.

After her debut win at Saratoga, Pletcher saw fit to run Capeside Lady in the Aug. 30 Monmouth's Sorority (gr. III), where she was last of eight on a track labeled "wet-fast."

"We were a little bit baffled by the race at Monmouth," Pletcher said. "She didn't get away well and the track was in that harrowed/muddy stage. She didn't run her race at all that day."

She ran it on Sunday. Out quickly, she settled nicely and set a pace of :22 1/5; :45 3/5 and 1:10 3/5, with only mild pressure early from favored Wild Berry. But Capeside Lady kept running when the favorite stopped and came home the easiest kind of winner.

"I don't think she has to have the lead to win," Pletcher said. "From the rail and the mud, going seven-eighths, we wanted to get some position out of the gate. She was pretty strong from that point on."

She earned $65,340 for owners So Madcapt Stable.

Fait Accompli was up for second, well ahead of Clarksburg Queen. Dearest Heart, Wild Berry, Then She Laughs and Lightning Lyla completed the order of finish.